For the third and final day of the ERA General Assembly, two more conference session were held, starting with the inspirational speaker Cheryle Robinson Jackson.
With a trailblazing career in media as a former Vice President at NPR, in government leading communications for an Illinois Governor, in civil rights as the President and CEO of Chicago Urban League, in politics as a candidate for the US Senate seat in Illinois, and in international business leading global business development, Jackson gave her insights into self-confidence, or as she calls it “walking in your brilliance”. She also discussed diversity and expanding the talent pool.
The results are in
The ERA Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place each year at the ERA General Assembly and is a great opportunity for members to vote on strategic issues. Here several changes were agreed, most notably the change to member categories to reflect the common language already in use, that is Airports, Airports, Manufacturers, Suppliers and Aviation Services.
The results of the elections for the ERA Board were also announced. Warner Rootliep, Managing Director of KLM Cityhopper, was elected as the new Vice President of the ERA Board; Mark Anderson, CEO of Connect Airways and Pierre-Olivier Bandet, CEO of Air France HOP, were also been newly elected as airline board members, whilst Árni Gunnarsson, Managing Director, Air Iceland Connect and Pedro Agustin del Castillo, President and CEO, Binter, were re-elected, having held their seats for five and nine years respectively. In addition to this, Martyn Holmes, Embraer, was officially elected; and Rockton’s Robert Küller and Air Partner’s Tony Whitty were re-elected and will stand for another three-year term.
Celebrating success
Following the ERA Awards dinner on Wednesday night, the news conferences continued on Thursday morning with the Airport of the Year Award winner Aarhus Airport. Peer Kristensen, Aarhus Airport CEO, and David Surley, Head of Airport Relations, talked about how the airport is “on the rise” as the fastest growing airport in Scandinavia in 2018 with an increase of 80 per cent international traffic and the launch of its new terminal redesign that opened in August this year.
The ERA General Assembly was once again a great success with numerous opportunities for networking, strategic meetings and topical conversation. In addition to the beautiful setting of Juan-les-Pins, the location of the conference centre provided the perfect space to host the hundreds of delegates in attendance.
Next year’s venue has already been confirmed – the 2020 ERA General Assembly will be held on 13–15 October in Vilamoura, Portugal. Don’t miss this exciting event next year and mark the dates in your calendar now!